One of the most exciting industries in the world today is the travel industry. Whether you’re interested in working for the airline industry or the cruise industry, there are literally hundreds of unique and exciting positions to choose from. Because the cruise industry is fast becoming the vacation of choice for people of all ages, the need for employees of all kinds is at an all-time high. While job openings on cruise ships are plentiful, the positions are competitive. The application process is lengthy and the requirements are firm. The good news is, once you make the cut, the benefits to working on cruise ships are endless.
Job openings on cruise ships will fall into one of the following departments: Activity/Entertainment Department, Deck & Engineering Department, Service & Hospitality Department, Personal Care Department and Office Positions. One of the nicest perks, no matter what department you plan to work in, is in most cases, all standard living expenses are covered including room, food, health coverage, etc., which means the majority of your earnings can be saved. Compensation varies depending on position, the cruise line, etc.
Cruise ship jobs in the Activity/Entertainment department are considered some of the most glamorous jobs aboard the ship. These positions deal with anything relating to passenger entertainment and are often synonymous with “cruise staff.� This department includes: DJ’s, Production Managers, Photographers, Managers, Casino Staff, Host/Hostess and Cruise Consultant, to name a few. Those best suited for jobs in this department are typically enthusiastic and extroverted.
The Deck & Engineering Department is one of the most important departments on the vessel –without it the ship would never set sail. This department is responsible for maintaining and running the vessel. Please note that the positions in this department are not typically entry-level positions, especially on large ships. The department consists of deckhands, maintenance workers, engineers, and officers. These positions help to motor or sail the ship, attend to the physical maintenance needs of the ship, and keep it in accordance with fleet regulations and international maritime laws. Officers are in charge of passenger safety as well.
Considered the “Hotel Management� Department, staff members in the Service/Hospitality Department have the responsibility of managing the bars & restaurants and passenger cabins, as well as shipboard retail concessions like gift shops. Just a few Service/Hospitality positions include: Hotel Manager, Cabin Stewards/Stewardesses, Accountant, Executive Chef, Wine Steward, Chief Purser, Purser Staff, Chief Purser, Bellman, Pastry Chef and the list goes on and on. Most service positions such as bartenders, waiters and cocktail servers can earn a good amount of extra money from tips.
No cruise would be complete without a department devoted to helping passengers pamper themselves. The Personal Care Department includes spa, fitness, beauty and medical services. It helps manage hair stylists, manicurists, massage therapists, fitness instructors, beauty therapists, spa attendants, nurses and physicians all dedicated to the well-being of passengers.
Most office positions are onshore — employees typically work in the main office performing administrative tasks, arranging cruises or performing general office tasks. Office positions generally fall under the following categories: Accounting, Administrative/Clerical, Air Operations, Marketing/PR and Reservations/Sales.
For more information about job openings on cruise ships visit Cruise Ship Jobs online. Here, you can download the 2008 cruise ship employment guide; you can read through cruise line profiles; you can find out which ships are hiring and for what positions — and you can even apply for a cruise ship job right online!
If you have a specific cruise line in mind, you can send a cover letter and resume to the cruise lines Human Resources Department, which is typically at the cruise lines headquarters. It is important that you include the position you are interested in so that it can be directed to the appropriate department manager.